Juanita Watts, MD, is our women's health leader in Southern California. She explains how the colors of the rainbow can help you prevent cancer, maintain your weight, and sharpen your mind.

There's an easy way to help maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk for health conditions such as heart [...]]]>

Juanita Watts, MD, is our women's health leader in Southern California. She explains how the colors of the rainbow can help you prevent cancer, maintain your weight, and sharpen your mind.

There's an easy way to help maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk for health conditions such as heart disease and cancer: Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.

Following are a few of my favorite building blocks for health:

• Ravishing reds. Tomatoes, red bell pepper, watermelon, and pink grapefruit are among the foods that get their color from lycopene. This antioxidant helps lessen the effect of disease-causing free radicals, which are molecules or atoms that can damage cells and genes. For men, lycopene may also decrease the risk of prostate cancer.
• Outrageous oranges. Orange and yellow foods contain beta-carotene, which may help keep your mind sharp. Apricots, peaches, yams, and carrots are some examples that also contain cryptoxanthin, an antioxidant that acts like an anti-inflammatory agent and may lower the risk of arthritis.
• Glowing greens. Leafy greens, such as spinach and collard greens, and broccoli contain vitamin C, beta carotene, folic acid, and many other phytochemicals. These compounds work together to help reduce your risk for cancer and heart disease.
• Blue blends. Dark blue and purple fruits and vegetables—such as blackberries, purple cabbage, and eggplant—contain anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent tumor growth and protect against vascular disease.
• Brown beanies. Lentils and beans contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber works to lower your cholesterol. Insoluble fiber can decrease constipation and help prevent weight gain.

For local, in-season fruits and vegetables, visit a farmers' market at one of our medical facilities. Find a farmers' market near you.

Scott Power (second from right), a senior brand strategist at Kaiser Permanente, spent six months extensively training to compete in and finish the grueling Ironman Triathlon. He shares the following five tips to help anyone ready to take on a new exercise routine or breathe life into an old one.

Childhood obesity is a serious problem across our nation. Fortunately, help is coming, with the first lady herself joining the fight.

Michelle Obama was recently named honorary chair of the newly formed Partnership for a Healthier America. Founded by six leading foundations and [...]]]>

Childhood obesity is a serious problem across our nation. Fortunately, help is coming, with the first lady herself joining the fight.

Michelle Obama was recently named honorary chair of the newly formed Partnership for a Healthier America. Founded by six leading foundations and nonprofits, including Kaiser Permanente, this organization was formed to combat childhood obesity.

The four pillars of the first lady's plan

Earlier this month, Michelle Obama laid out the four pillars of her nationwide initiative to fight childhood obesity. Her "Let's Move" campaign will address the issue in the following four ways:

• offering parents the tools and information they need to make healthy choices for their kids
• getting healthier food into our nation's schools
• ensuring that all our families have access to healthy, affordable food in their communities
• increasing opportunities for kids to be physically active, both in and out of school

Good health is in our DNA

"In every community we serve, Kaiser Permanente works to fight obesity, reduce health disparities, and make healthy food and physical activity a part of everyday life," said Raymond J. Baxter, PhD, Kaiser Permanente's senior vice president, Community Benefit, Research and Health Policy.

From extending access to public pools and providing swim lessons for thousands of Southern California families through Operation Splash to sponsoring farmers' markets in local communities across the country, we've long supported healthy eating and physical activity as part of our integrated approach to combat childhood obesity.

Ultimately, our biggest partner in this battle is you. Visit our Healthy Kids section for a collection of helpful posts, including how to determine the appropriate weight for your child by calculating their body mass index.

To read our full statement on this important issue, visit our News Center.

Mike Kosel has set out to climb some of the world's highest mountains, and he's learned a few things along the way. His insights might inspire you to take your current exercise routine to the next level—or to embark on a whole new fitness challenge.

Energetic and outgoing, it's easy to assume that Scott Power, a senior brand strategist at Kaiser Permanente, has always led an active lifestyle. But in reality, it took inspiration from friends and family for him to get healthier and push his limits—all the way to the Ironman Triathlon.

Power admits [...]]]>

Energetic and outgoing, it's easy to assume that Scott Power, a senior brand strategist at Kaiser Permanente, has always led an active lifestyle. But in reality, it took inspiration from friends and family for him to get healthier and push his limits—all the way to the Ironman Triathlon.

Humble beginnings

Power admits that he didn't take his health seriously until his late 20s. Once he did, he met like-minded people who shared this positive outlook.

Some of those friends were marathon runners who were passionate about the sport. They explained to him that, with proper training and preparation, anyone could run a marathon.

With their encouragement, Power set out to accomplish his very first fitness goal—to complete the Chicago Marathon. He crossed that finish line in 2004, bringing home a medal and an appreciation for what people can accomplish through will, dedication, and a positive frame of mind.

Seeing is believing

With the Chicago Marathon behind him, Power moved to Los Angeles. There he began volunteering at local running events. Through these circles, including friends of his wife, he learned about the Ironman Triathlon.

One of the most grueling fitness challenges in the world, the Ironman is made up of three events: a 2.4-mile ocean swim; a 112-mile bike ride; and a 26.2-mile run. It's an awe-inspiring feat of endurance that most would never consider. But Power saw it differently.

"The people who crossed the finish line looked just like me," he says, remembering the competition he watched on television. "They weren't textbook examples of fitness. They came in all shapes and sizes.

"That humanized it for me," Power adds. "I thought to myself, 'I think I can do this.'"

Training for the Ironman

Once he made the commitment, Power learned all he could about preparing for the Ironman. He set his sights on the Ironman Coeur d'Alene in Idaho and began his training six months prior to the event.

"Over 26 weeks, I estimate I swam, biked, and ran more than 250 hours," Power says. "The training is an epic adventure in itself."

Beyond the rigorous mix of running, cycling, and swimming, a healthy diet helped Power maintain energy and build up his endurance. "The quality of the fuel you put in your body makes a difference," he advises.

Power also managed his energy by eating small meals throughout the day, grazing on fruit, nuts, and other healthy snacks at his desk. "Your energy is like a campfire. You add fuel while it's still burning. You don't want to wait until your body is tired to add fuel."

Another key part of training that people often overlook, Power shares, is rest.

"Rest is vital to avoiding burnout and injury," he says. "You have to give your body a chance to recover and get ready for the next test. Sometimes the best thing for your body is to take a day off—and that doesn't mean you stay up all night partying."

The race

An important tip that Power learned from his research and from his friends is to show up on race day in a good mood and injury free. That's exactly how he arrived early in the morning on June 22, 2008.

Throughout the triathlon Power held on to one clear vision: to cross the finish line and drape the Ironman medal around his father's neck. Fourteen hours and 39 minutes later, that's just what he did.

Visit Scott Power's blog for more on his Ironman Coeur d'Alene experience.

While reading all the wonderful submissions from people sharing how they thrive, we discovered the following entry from Trudy Hussmann, editorial supervisor in the Department of Communications and Organizational Research at Kaiser Permanente Northwest.

"This morning I thrived by riding my bike to work—an almost daily practice for about a year [...]]]> While reading all the wonderful submissions from people sharing how they thrive, we discovered the following entry from Trudy Hussmann, editorial supervisor in the Department of Communications and Organizational Research at Kaiser Permanente Northwest.

"This morning I thrived by riding my bike to work—an almost daily practice for about a year and a half now. In fact, I haven't owned a car for that long."

Intrigued, we followed up with Hussman to learn more about her car-free life.

"What happened is that my car was totaled in an accident, and I decided not to get another one right away," she explains. "Now, I've completely adjusted to living without a car, although I occasionally rent one for the weekend."

Car-free bonuses

"I always feel totally invigorated by my morning ride, and relaxed after my evening ride home," Hussman shares.

In addition to the boost she gets from biking to and from work, Hussman lists the following car-free bonuses she values most:

• saving money
• getting more exercise
• enjoying better quality of life from reduced stress (no traffic jams or road rage!)
• reducing her carbon footprint

Neither snow nor rain . . .

Hussman lives in Portland, Oregon, where weather permits her to bike to work on most days. Besides biking, she also walks more since becoming car-free. "Last winter, when we got over a foot of snow, I simply walked to the office because the buses weren't running," she says.

"Exercise and movement are hardwired in me," Hussmann adds. "They make me feel good and I get antsy if I go a day or two without them." On top of biking, Hussman is an avid runner, hiker, and cross-country skier.

How did you thrive today?

Do you have a different way of living every day to the fullest? Share your unique experience or healthy habit by submitting your story, photo, or video.

Need some inspiration? Here are some ways people all over are thriving:

• Everyone in my family got a hug today . . . the dog, the cat, the husband, and of course, my beautiful daughter. — Carol Shim

• I went for a long walk, which helped me let go of all my concerns of the day. — Judy Asbury

• I surf every morning. — Isabelle Smith

• This morning, I ran on the treadmill for 40 minutes, which helped me keep a positive outlook throughout the day. — Sandy Bres

• For lunch I had a salad made with cucumbers, tomatoes, and beets—and the cucumbers and tomatoes were from my own garden. — Guy Chicoine

Much like a modern-day Johnny Appleseed, Preston Maring, MD, is on a mission—a mission to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to more people across the country.

Dr. Maring's quest began back in 2003 with the founding of the first Kaiser Permanente farmers' market: the Friday Fresh Market at our Oakland Medical [...]]]> Much like a modern-day Johnny Appleseed, Preston Maring, MD, is on a mission—a mission to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to more people across the country.

Dr. Maring's quest began back in 2003 with the founding of the first Kaiser Permanente farmers' market: the Friday Fresh Market at our Oakland Medical Center. Since then, he has helped establish over 30 farmers' markets at Kaiser Permanente facilities across our regions.

Recently, the National Park Service honored Dr. Maring with the 2009 World War II Home Front Award for promoting the role of fresh produce in preventive medicine—and for recognizing farming as a community effort.

The award was presented during the Richmond, California, annual Home Front Festival on October 3. The theme of the festival was "We grow when we come together," highlighting victory and community gardens past and present.

Dr. Maring is an unabashed champion of his cause—advocating the value of locally grown produce through his television appearances and sharing healthy recipes on his blog. He also recently authored the introduction to EatingWell in Season: A Farmers' Market Cookbook, published by EatingWell magazine.

Dr. Maring is an Ob/Gyn physician with nearly 40 years of experience. He continues in a long line of Kaiser Permanente practitioners who have promoted healthy diets and communities through innovative means. To learn more about the history of Kaiser Permanente, visit our history blog.

To find a Kaiser Permanente farmers' market near you, check out our interactive map.

To discover some fresh new recipes, visit Dr. Maring's blog. From Moroccan Tomato Soup to the Quarterpounder Revisited, you'll find all sorts of delicious creations.

• Provide your kids with a safe environment to explore.

• Teach them healthy habits now (like how to eat well, enjoy exercise, and think positively), so they’ll always have them.

• Join them! Get out there and have fun with your kids. They'll thrive more when you thrive with them.

— Marla [...]]]>

• Provide your kids with a safe environment to explore.

• Teach them healthy habits now (like how to eat well, enjoy exercise, and think positively), so they’ll always have them.

• Join them! Get out there and have fun with your kids. They'll thrive more when you thrive with them.

— Marla Abrolat, MD
Kaiser Permanente Pediatrician

Did you know that a 20-percent reduction in meat consumption could save as much energy as if everyone in the country drove a hybrid?

By taking a break from meat one day a week, you can make a positive impact on our planet, and maybe improve your health while you're at [...]]]> Did you know that a 20-percent reduction in meat consumption could save as much energy as if everyone in the country drove a hybrid?

By taking a break from meat one day a week, you can make a positive impact on our planet, and maybe improve your health while you're at it.

This is just one simple thing you can do to help the environment.

Explore easy ways to "go green" at home.

It’s easy to do your part to help the environment. Kaiser Permanente’s green guru Kathy Gerwig tells how to make inexpensive cleaning supplies and gives unique tips on staying healthy and supporting the planet.